Ball rack and receptacle support



Nov. 22, 1932. J. H. STAHL BALL RACK AND RECEPTACLE SUPPORT Filed Feb. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Z6WW Nov. 22, 1932.

J. H. STAHL 1,888,362

BALL RACK AND RECEPTACLE SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1932 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 22, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOHN HENRY STAHL, or EL rAso, TEXAS -BALL BACK AND nncErr-AoLn surr'onr Application filed February 15, 1932. Serial No. 592,926.

My invention relates to games in which ball racks and receptacle supports are or may be used and has particular reference to games played on pocket billiard tables whether such tables are equipped or not equipped with gulleys for the return of balls to a designated place; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to promote speed and convenience in handling the balls; second, to provide a convenient and easy means for racking and/or holding balls and releasing them into some receptacle provided therefor; third, to save the time and promote the convenience r of players; fourth, to conserve time and efiort on the part of an attendant who cares for the balls throughout the progress of a game, places them within a triangle for spotting preparatory to the beginning of an ensuing game, and removes them when games are concluded; and, fifth, to provide an improvement that makes such advantages available in simpler form and at lower cost. Other advantages become apparent in this specification and claims.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a view in perspective of my ball rack and receptacle support; Figure II is an elevational view in perspective of the rear of my ball rack; Figure III is a view in perspective of a spring latch from which my receptacle support is suspended; Figure IV is a view in perspective of a receiving brace upon two of which the arms of my receptacle support rest; Figure V is aview in perspective of a fragmentary part of my ball rack, balls within channels of the runways thereof, my receptacle support in place estopping the further downward progress of said balls, and suggested form of receptacle pendent from said receptacle support; Figure VI is a view .in perspective'of a fragmentarypart of my ball rack and my receptacle support swung forward, thus permitting the balls to fall into the suggested form of receptacle shown beneath; and Figure VII is a View in perspective of my receptacle'support removed from ball rack.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Making further, detailed and particular reference to said views on drawings, the numeral 1 in Figure I indicates a part of ball rack frame; 22, top pieces along the longitudinal upper extremity of part 1; 3, an inserted part projecting over a spring latch and situated intermediate said top pieces 22; H, innerrupright ends of said ball rack frame near the upper extremity of each of which inner upright ends there is a hole for a screw or other means of securing said ball rack to a table; 55, outer upright ends of said ball rack frame, which said outer upright ends may be made of variable width to meet the particular requirements of a table to which said ball rack is to be attached; 6666, a plurality of runways secured tosaid frame; 7777, channels within said plurality of runways; 8-888, ballguiding ledges along the longitudinal lengths along the sides of said channels; 99, receiving holders for receptacle support; 9a,

-a spring latch underneath and adjacent to part 3; 1010, clips to hold ball rack to table and thus reduce or prevent play; 11, the receptacle support; 12-12, the handles of said receptacle support; and 13, a suggested form r of receptacle, basket or the like for receiving balls.

Figures II to VII inclusive already have been described, except that the numerals 151515 in Figure II indicate bottom pieces along the longitudinal lower extremity of ball rack frame part 1, and except also that the numerals 14141414 in Figures V and VI indicate balls.

My ball rack and receptacle support functions in the following manner, to-wit: balls, such as are indicated by the numerals 14: in Figure V and Figure VI, are placed within channels 7777 in runways 6666 shown in Figure I, are retained within said channels 7777 and, inasmuch as the said runways 66-6-6 incline toward a common center, the balls roll downward until their descending progress is arrested by receptacle support 11 when said receptacle support is in place pendent from reoeivin holders 9-9 and spring latch 9a; then, w en balls are desired to accumulate within the form of receptacle, basket or the like provided to receive them, an attendant or 5 a player releases the spring latch 9a, the receptacle support swings forward out of the way of the balls whose progress the receptacle support has arrested fall. If and when desired, those parts of my receptacle support 11 with which the rolling balls cont-act may be receptacle support 11, although permitted to swing forward, as shown in Figure VI, is still supported by the rceiving holders 99 and these, not the attendant or the player, absorb the shock of the falling balls. It is to be remembered, moreover, that the width of the outer upright ends of said ball rack frame may be varied to meet the special requirements of the particular type of table with which my ball rack and receptacle support is to be used. To remove the receptacle support 11, grasp the handles 12-12, after re easing the spring latch 9a, and lift off the receiving holders 99. These handles 12-12 serve also while on the sides of the spring latch 9a to prevent lateral movement or pla of the receptacle support 11. No reoeptacie, basket or the like per se is intended to form a part of this application for patent because of the fact that a similar receptacle or basket forms the subject matter of another and prior application for United States Letters Patent by this same inventor and was assigned to the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company of Chicago, Illinois. The

serial number of said application is 358,011.

Albeit the runways 6-666 extend beond .the frame part 1 of my ball rack, they do not extend beyond a billiard table to interrupt, impede, or otherwise hinder the pro ess and convenience of players, atten ants and/or others. In view of its utility, novelty, obvious ease and convenience of placement, removal and return of balls, it is believed that my ball rack and receptacle'support will make a prompt and abiding appeal.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire protected by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. In a ball rack and receptacle support, a frame, a plurality of runways secured thereto and so positioned thereupon that said runways incline downward toward an imaginary perpendicular line about midway of a space between the approaching runways on each side of said space; channels within said runways; ball-guides along said channels; a spring latch secured to said frame and centrally positioned adjacent the top of said frame; a receptacle support placeable on and removable off said spring latch and receiving holders disposed conveniently apart and secured to the bottom and to the rear of said frame, the said receptacle support having handles near its top and means adjacent its lower extremities of attaching thereto some form of receptacle, basket or the like, substantially as herein described.

2. In a ball rack and receptacle support, a frame, runways secured to said frame and so disposed thereon that they incline downwardly toward an imaginary perpendicular line bisecting a space between the approaching runways on each side of said space; a spring latch centrally secured adjacent the top of said frame; receiving holders spaced apart and secured at the bottom and the rear of said frame; clips to secure said ball rack to a table, and a receptacle support placeable on and removable off said spring latch and said receiving holders.

3. A ball rack and receptacle support, the frame of said ball rack having secured thereto a V lurality of runways so positioned thereon t at they slope downward as their inner extremities approach each other; a channel along the longitudinal length of each runway; ball-guides along the sides of each channel, said ball-guides being integral parts of said runways; a spring latch adjacent the top of, centrally positioned and secured to said frame; receiving holders spaced apart and secured to the bottom and to the rear of said frame; handles positioned high on said receptacle support, said receptacle support being placeable on and removable off the spring latch and receiving holders secured to the frame of said ball rack, substantially as herein stated.

4. In a ball rack and receptacle support, parts that comprise a frame therefor, runways secured to said frame and so positioned thereon that their outer extremities occupy higher relative positions than their inner extremities; a channel in each of said runways, longitudinally disposed; a ball-guide along each side of each channel; clips disposed at the bottom of said ball rack to hold said ball rack closely in contact with the table with which the ball rack is used; a spring latch secured to and centrally positioned adjacent the top of said frame; receiving holders spaced suitably apart, positioned at the bottom of said frame and secured to said bottom and to the rear of said frame; inner ,and outer upright end parts of said frame, means adjacent the upper extremities of said inner upright end arts of attaching said ball rack to a table, t e width of said outer upright end parts being variable to meet the requlrements of the particular type of table with which said ball rack is to be used; a receptacle support placeable on and removeable off the spring latch and receiving holders secured to the frame of said ball rack, and handles positioned high on said receptacle support; also means at the lower extremities of said receptacle support to hold some selected form of receptacle, basket or the like.

5. A ball rack and receptacle support, the said ball rack consisting of parts that comprise a frame, the Width of the outer upright end parts of said frame being variable; a spring latch and receiving holders suitably disposed thereon and secured to said frame; a plurality of runways secured to said frame and so positioned thereon that their outer extremities incline upward; a channel in each of said runways; ball-guides along the sides of each channel, and a receptacle support with high-positioned handles, said receptacle support being placeable on and removable off said ball rack.

6. In a combination ball rack and receptacle support, parts comprising a frame therefor; runways positioned diagonally thereon and secured to said frame, the inner extremity of each runway being lower than its own outer extremity; a spring latch and receiving holders secured to said frame for a receptacle support, a receptacle support placeable on and removable from said spring latch and receiving holders, handles positioned high on said receptacle support and means adjacent the lower extremities of said receptacle sup port to attach to some form of receptacle, basket or the like.

7. In a combination ball rack and receptacle support, parts that comprise a frame, a plurality of runways positioned slopingly toward a common perpendicular center and secured to said frame; a spring latch and receiving holders for a receptacle support, and a receptacle support placeable on and removable off the said spring latch and receiving holders secured to said frame, substantially as herein described.

Executed at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, this 9th day of February, 1932.

JOHN HENRY STAHL. 

